Dental compact



Dec. 25, 1945. E. E. SMITH ETAL DENTAL COMPACT original Fiied July 21, 1945 WW# V 7 nu@ Mm www@ ma l y www w f i ATT R N EYS Patented Dec. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Elizabeth E. Smith and VWill O. Smith, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Original application July 2'1,` 1943, Seriall No. 495,654. Divided and this application January 8, 1945, Serial No. 571,798

3 Claims.

My present invention is a division of my application for patent, Serial No. 495,654, led July 21, 1943, now Patent No. 2,379,600, dated July 3, 1945, on Dental compact, and in its broad aspect, relates to the unique combination of pivotal support for a pivoted toothbrush to mount the same either in an active or a passive position, and said support being in the form of a hollow block constituting a housing for a drawer-like dentifrice holder which is so formed and positioned that when the toothbrush is in folded or inactive position, the open drawer. is beneath and engageablev by the bristle head of the brush to supply a powder or other dentifrice to the bristle, and a casing for the brush and block and drawer and serving as a handle and which has means for insuringa closed position of the drawer when the block is in position within the casing, whether the brush be in active or passive position, thereby preventing spilling or loss of dentifrice.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a compact of this character wherein a toothbrush associated therewith and dentifrice material will be confined therein for ready access and will be protected against dirt, dust or contamination from foreign matter when not in use, the toothbrush as well as the dentifrice material being readily accessible for service and without necessitating the separation thereof which might result in the loss of the same and additionally the compact housing constitutes a handle for the toothbrush when in use, as well as a holder for the dentifrice material.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a compact of this character which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and effective in operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the' invention and po-inted out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the compact constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the same arranged for use of the toothbrush, constituting a, part thereof.

Figure 2 is a plan view partly in section.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view with the brush within the shell or casing.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of the brush', drawer and carrying block, the drawer being shown partly Withdrawn from the block.

Figure 6 is a plan View of a fragmentary por-v tion of the shank of the brush, and Y Figure 7 is a perspective view of the drawer and brush-carrying block.

Similar reference characters indicate correspendingv parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally the compact. The compact pref-` erably comprises an outer shell or casing I0 permanently closed at the end II and open at the opposite end I2 of the same,

'I'he casing I il receives a block I3, toothbrush I6 and drawer 20. In cross sectional formation, the block I3 conforms to the inner cross sectional formation Of the casing IIJ and has a snug fit in the forward portion of the casing. The

. block I3 is provided in its upper side with the groove I4 which' extends longitudinally thereof. The iianges formed by grooving the block I3 have relatively thick forward portions Illa and relatively thin rearward portions Mb. The rear end of the shank I5 of the toothbrush I 6 is pivoted, as at I8 to and between the ange portions I4a for movement into folded or extended position with relation to the block I3. 'I'he brush I6 is provided with' the usual bristles I 1. The

A flanged portions Ilia are provided at the inner sides and near their forward ends with lugs I4c which are located in notches I5a of the brush shank I5 when the brush is in extended position. The block I3 is provided at its lateral side near its forward end with a lug 23 which has a snug fit in a slot 22 formed in the casing I0.

When in extended position, the brush I6 is arranged for use. It is held in this position against any accidental movement with relation to the casing I@ and block I3 by the ribs I 4a, lugs |40 and casing It). The casing Ill and block I3 are held against any accidental movement one with relation to the other by the lug 23.

The casing IU is provided with inner longitudinal ribs I9 which extend longitudinally thereof and which contact with the rear ends of the Flange portions Illa of the block I3 and with the upper edges of the fiange portions Illb of the block, whereby to limit the insertion of the block into the casing and to assist the lug 23 in holdi ing the block against any accidental movement with relation to the casing. When the brush I6 is in folded position, the shank I5 with the brush is located between the flange portions I4a and I4b and the ribs I9, and the bristles I1 are located rearwardly of the block I3.

The block I3 is hollow, is fully open at its rear end and is fully closed at its front end. The block I3 is adapted to receive the drawer 20 containing the dentifrice. The drawer 20 has a sufflciently snug fit in the block I3 to prevent it from having any lateral movement with relation to the block.

Normally the brush I6 is folded and the drawer 20 is sealed in the block I3 which is confined within the casing I0. The lug 23 protrudes slightly beyond the outer face of the casing III, so as to enable the removal of the block therefrom to have the brush I6 unfolded or extended for use.

After the unfolding of the brush I6 or the extending thereof on removal of the-block I3, the latter is replaced in the casing I0, thus holding the brush fixed in its extended or unfolded position for use.

The drawer 20 is provided at its rear end with a pull 26, and it is held against accidental rearward movement from the block I3 by ribs 21 formed within and extending longitudinally of the casing I0. The ribs 2l are located on the lower side of the casing I0 and Contact with the rear end of the drawer 20. As showngthe brush I6 may be supplied with dentifrice after the withdrawal of the block 20 from the casing I0 and before swinging the brush into position for use. The ribs 2'I make it impossible for the drawer 25 to occupy a partly opened position when the block 24 is in place in the casing I0. This prevents any waste of the powdered dentice. The open end of the casing I0 is closed by a cap 28.

It is claimed:

1. A dental compact of the kind described, comprising a casing open at its forward end, a block removably positioned within the open end of the casing, a brush having a shank pivoted to the block for movement into folded or extended position with relation thereto, the block being provided with a passage closed at its front end, a drawer slidably associated with the block. and means in the casing preventing the movement of the drawer to open position when the latter and the block are housed Within the casing.

2. The combination in a dental compact, of an elongated casing, a hollow block slidable in the casing, a receptacle for a dentifrice received in the block, said block having parallel, spaced, upstanding edge flanges, a toothbrush having bristles and a shank pivotally mounted in and between the flanges, to be moved to an open position extending out from one end of the block and casing, and to a closed position with the shank lying between the flanges and on top with the bristles overhanging an end of the block and the end of the dentifrice container, and means for preventing displacement of the dentifrice receptacle.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for preventing displacement of the dentifrice receptacle includes ribs located on the lower floor of the casing and engaging the end of the receptacle.

ELIZABETH E. SMITH. WILL O. SMITH. 

